No More Learning

Mrs. Oakly-So, so!
Harriot- - What place can be so proper as your own house?
Oakly-My dear madam, I-I-
Mrs. Oakly-My dear madam! mighty well!
Oakly-Hush! hark! what noise? No, nothing. But I'll be
plain with you, madam; we may be interrupted. The family con-
sideration I hinted at is nothing else than my wife. She is a little
unhappy in her temper, madam; and if you were to be admit
ted into the house, I don't know what might be the consequence.


## p. 3904 (#270) ###########################################

GEORGE COLMAN THE ELDER
3904
Mrs. Oakly- Very fine!
Harriot - My behavior, sir-
Oakly - My dear life, it would be impossible for you to be-
have in such a manner as not to give her suspicion.
Harriot-But if your nephew, sir, took everything upon
himself -
Oakly Still that would not do, madam. Why, this very
morning, when the letter came from your father, though I
positively denied any knowledge of it, and Charles owned it, yet
it was almost impossible to pacify her.
Mrs. Oakly-The letter! How have I been bubbled!
- What shall I do? what will become of me?
Harriot
-
Oakly-Why, look ye, my dear madam, since my wife is so
strong an objection, it is absolutely impossible for me to take
you into the house. Nay, if I had not known she was gone out
just before you came, I should be uneasy at your being here
even now. So we must manage as well as we can: I'll
take a private lodging for you a little way off, unknown to
Charles or my wife or anybody; and if Mrs. Oakly should dis-
cover it at last, why the whole matter will light upon Charles,
you know.
Mrs. Oakly - Upon Charles!
Harriot How unhappy is my situation! [Weeping. ] I am
ruined forever.
Oakly Ruined! not at all. Such a thing as this has hap
pened to many a young lady before you, and all has been well
again. Keep up your spirits! I'll contrive, if I possibly can, to
visit you every day.
And you,
Mrs. Oakly [advancing]- Will you so? O Mr. Oakly! I
have discovered you at last? I'll visit you, indeed.
my dear madam, I'll-
Harriot
Madam, I don't understand-
Mrs. Oakly-I understand the whole affair, and have under-
stood it for some time past. You shall have a private lodging,
miss! It is the fittest place for you, I believe.
How dare you
look me in the face?
――――
―
Oakly For Heaven's sake, my love, don't be so violent!
You are quite wrong in this affair; you don't know who you are
talking to. That lady is a person of fashion.
Mrs. Oakly-Fine fashion, indeed! to beguile other women's
husbands!


## p. 3905 (#271) ###########################################

GEORGE COLMAN THE ELDER
3905
Harriot-Dear madam, how can you imagine-
Oakly-I tell you, my dear, this is the young lady that
Charles
Mrs. Oakly-Mighty well! But that won't do, sir! Did not
I hear you lay the whole intrigue together? did not I hear
your fine plot of throwing all the blame upon Charles?
Oakly-Nay, be cool a moment! You must know, my dear,
that the letter which came this morning related to this lady.
Mrs. Oakly-I know it.
Oakly - And since that, it seems, Charles has been so fortu-
nate as to-
-
Mrs. Oakly-O, you deceitful man! that trick is too stale
to pass again with me. It is plain now what you meant by
your proposing to take her into the house this morning. But
the gentlewoman could introduce herself, I see.
Oakly Fie, fie, my dear! she came on purpose to inquire
for you.
Mrs. Oakly- For me! Better and better! Did not she watch
her opportunity, and come to you just as I went out? But I am
obliged to you for your visit, madam. It is sufficiently paid.
Pray don't let me detain you.
to death.
Oakly - For shame, for shame, Mrs. Oakly! How can you
be so absurd? Is this proper behavior to a lady of her char-
―
acter ?
Mrs. Oakly-I have heard her character. Go, my fine run-
away madam!
Now you've eloped from your father, and run
away from your aunt, go! You shan't stay here, I promise you.
Oakly-Prithee, be quiet. You don't know what you are
She shall stay.
doing.
Mrs. Oakly-She shan't stay a minute.
Oakly She shall stay a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a
month, a year! 'Sdeath, madam, she shall stay forever, if I
choose it.
Mrs. Oakly- How!
Harriot-For Heaven's sake, sir, let me go. I am frighted
Oakly-Don't be afraid, madam! She shall stay, I insist
upon it.
Russet [within]-I tell you, sir, I will go up.
that the lady is here, and nothing shall hinder me.
Harriot -Oh, my father, my father!
VII-245
I am
sure
[Faints away.


## p. 3906 (#272) ###########################################

3906
GEORGE COLMAN THE ELDER
Oakly-See! she faints. [Catching her. ] Ring the bell!
who's there?
Mrs. Oakly-What, take her in your arms too! I have no
patience.
Russet-Where is this-Ha! fainting! [Running to her. ] Oh,
my dear Harriot! my child! my child!
Oakly-Your coming so abruptly shocked her spirits. But
she revives. How do you, madam?
Harriot [to Russet]-Oh, sir!
Russet -Oh, my dear girl! how could you run away from
your father, that loves you with such fondness! But I was sure
I should find you here.
Mrs. Oakly-There, there! Sure he should find her here!
Did not I tell you so? Are not you a wicked man, to carry on
such base underhand doings with a gentleman's daughter?
Russet- Let me tell you, sir, whatever you may think of the
matter, I shall not easily put up with this behavior. How durst
you encourage my daughter to an elopement, and receive her in
your house?
Mrs. Oakly-There, mind that! the thing is as plain as the
light.
Oakly I tell you, you misunderstand
Russet-Look you, Mr. Oakly, I shall expect satisfaction from
your family for so gross an affront. Zounds, sir, I am not to be
used ill by any man in England!
My dear sir, I can assure you
Harriot
Russet - Hold your tongue, girl! you'll put me in a passion.
Oakly Sir, this is all a mistake.
£ Russet -A mistake! Did not I find her in your house?
Upon my soul, she has not been in the house
Oakly
-
――――
-
Enter Russet and servants
―
above-
Mrs. Oakly - Did not I hear you say you would take her to
a lodging? a private lodging?
Oakly-Yes; but that-
Russet — Has not this affair been carried on a long time, in
spite of my teeth?
Oakly Sir, I never troubled myself-
Mrs. Oakly - Never troubled yourself! Did not you insist on
her staying in the house, whether I would or no?
-


## p. 3907 (#273) ###########################################

GEORGE COLMAN THE ELDER
3907
Oakly - No.
Russet - Did not you send to meet her when she came to
town?
Oakly - No.
Mrs. Oakly - Did not you deceive me about the letter this
morning?
Oakly-No, no, no. I tell you, no!
Mrs. Oakly-Yes, yes, yes. I tell you, yes!
Russet Shan't I believe my own eyes?
-
Mrs. Oakly - Shan't I believe my own ears?
Oakly I tell you, you are both deceived.
Russet-Zounds, sir, I'll have satisfaction.
-
―――――
Mrs. Oakly-I'll stop these fine doings, I warrant you.
Oakly 'Sdeath, you will not let me speak! And you are
both alike, I think. I wish you were married to one another,
with all my heart.
Mrs. Oakly Mighty well! mighty well!
Russet -I shall soon find a time to talk with you.
➖➖
Oakly - Find a time to talk! you have talked enough now for
all your lives.
Mrs. Oakly-Very fine! Come along, sir! leave that lady
with her father. Now she is in the properest hands.
Oakly-I wish I could leave you in his hands. [Going,
returns. ] I shall follow you, madam! One word with you, sir!
The height of your passion, and Mrs. Oakly's strange misappre-
hension of this whole affair, makes it impossible to explain mat-
ters to you at present. I will do it when you please, and how
you please.
[Exit.
Russet - Yes, yes; I'll have satisfaction. -So, madam! I have
found you at last. You have made a fine confusion here.
Harriot I have indeed been the innocent cause of a great
Ideal of confusion.
Russet Innocent! what business had you to be running
hither after
Harriot - My dear sir, you misunderstand the whole affair. I
have not been in this house half an hour.
Russet-Zounds, girl, don't put me in a passion! You know
I love you; but a lie puts me in a passion! But come along;
we'll leave this house directly. [Charles singing without. ] Hey-
day! what now?


## p. 3908 (#274) ###########################################

3908
GEORGE COLMAN THE ELDER
After a noise without, enter Charles, drunk and singing:
But my wine neither nurses nor babies can bring,
And a big-bellied bottle's a mighty good thing.
What's here—a woman? a woman? Harriot! - Impossible! —
My dearest, sweetest Harriot! I have been looking all over the
town for you, and at last, when I was tired and weary and
disappointed,-why then the honest Major and I sat down
together to drink your health in pint bumpers.
[Running up to her.
my daughter before me? Zounds, sir,
Charles-Ha, 'Squire Russet, too!
do you? But Harriot! my dear girl!
life, my soul, my
Russet-Stand off!
Stand off! How dare you take any
ny liberties with
I'll be the death of you!
You jolly old cock, how
[Taking hold of her. ] My
Russet-Let her go, sir! Come away, Harriot! Leave him
this instant, or I'll tear you asunder.
[Pulling her.
Harriot-There needs no violence to tear me from a man
who could disguise himself in such a gross manner, at a time
when he knew I was in the utmost distress.
[Disengages herself, and exit with Russet.
Charles [alone]-Only hear me, sir! Madam! My dear
Harriot! Mr. Russet! Gone! She's gone; and egad, in a very
ill humor and in very bad company! I'll go after her. But
hold! I shall only make it worse, as I did, now I recollect,
once before. How the devil came they here? Who would have
thought of finding her in my own house? My head turns round
with conjectures. I believe I am drunk, very drunk; so egad,
I'll e'en go and sleep myself sober, and then inquire the mean-
ing of all this-
"For I love Sue, and Sue loves me," etc.
[Exit singing.


## p. 3909 (#275) ###########################################

3909
JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
(1592-1671)
BY BURKE A. HINSDALE
OHANN AMOS COMENIUS, the Slavic educational reformer, was
born March 28th, 1592, at Nivnitz, a village of Moravia.
His family belonged to the small but well-known body that
takes its name from the country,-"the Moravian Brethren," or sim-
ply "the Moravians," whose origin goes back to Huss, the Bohemian
reformer. The Brethren are known for their simple evangelical
faith, their humble fraternal lives, their interest in education, and
particularly their devotion to the cause of missions. Comenius was
a Moravian, a minister, and a bishop, and
he illustrated the best ideas and inspira-
tions of the Brotherhood in his teachings
and life.

COMENIUS
The parents of Comenius died when he
was still a child, and he fell into the hands
of guardians, who allowed his education to
be neglected. He received his elementary
education in one of the people's schools
that sprang out of the Hussite movement.
When sixteen years of age he attended a
Latin school, and at twenty he was study-
ing theology at Hebron College, in the
duchy of Nassau. Next he spent some
time in travel and in study at Heidelberg.
and returned to Moravia in 1614, being twenty-two years of age.
Too young to be ordained to the ministry, he was made rector of
a Moravian school at Prerau, near Olmütz, where his career as a
teacher and educator began. His attention had already been turned
to the teaching art as practiced in the schools, both by observation
and by reading the schemes of educational reform that had been
propounded. In 1616 he was ordained to the pastorate, and two
years later he was set over the flourishing church of Fulneck, where
he also had the supervision of a school. Here he married, and "for
two or three years," says Professor Laurie, "spent a happy and active
life, enjoying the only period of tranquillity in his native country
which it was ever his fortune to experience. For the restoration


## p. 3910 (#276) ###########################################

3910
JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
of a time so happy he never ceased to pine during all his future
wanderings. "
Soon the Thirty Years' War broke out, and in 1621 Fulneck fell
into the hands of the Spaniards, who dealt with it according to their
usual habit in such cases. Comenius lost all his property, including
his library and manuscripts, and became for the rest of his life an
exile. His wife and child he lost soon after. He had been so un-
fortunate as to incur the enmity of the Jesuits. We cannot follow
him closely in his wanderings. For some time he lived in secrecy
in Moravia and Bohemia. Then he found a resting-place at Lissa, in
Poland, where in 1621 he published a little work that at once made
him famous. This was the 'Janua Linguarum Reserata,' (the Gate
of Tongues Unlocked), which was translated into the principal lan-
guages of Europe and several languages of Asia. The next year he
was elected chief bishop of the Brethren, and henceforth there came
upon him daily, as upon the great Apostle, the care of all the
churches. Still he never ceased reading, thinking, and writing on
educational matters, and was often engaged in the practical work of
teaching. He visited England, called there to confer with the Long
Parliament in reference to the reform of education. He visited
Sweden, where he discussed education and learning with the great
Oxenstierna. Then he lived for a time at Elbing in East Russia.
Next he was called to Transylvania and Hungary on an educational
errand, and then returned to Lissa.
In the course of the war this town was destroyed, and Comenius
again lost all of his possessions. The great Pansophic dictionary
that had engaged him for many years went with the rest,—a loss,
he said, that he should cease to lament only when he should cease
to breathe. His next home was Amsterdam, where he set himself to
collect, revise, and supplement his writings on didactics, and where
they were published in four folio volumes in 1657. At some time, ac-
cording to Cotton Mather, he was offered the presidency of Harvard
College. After the publication of his works he lived thirteen years,
employed in teaching, in writing, and in pastoral labors. He died.
November 15th, 1671, in his eightieth year, having fully merited Von
Raumer's characterization:-"Comenius is a grand and venerable
figure of sorrow. Wandering, persecuted, and homeless during the
terrible and desolating Thirty Years' War, he yet never despaired; but
with enduring truth, and strong in faith, he labored unweariedly to
prepare youth by a better education for a better future. " In 1892,
on the three-hundredth anniversary of his birth, the educators of the
world united to honor his memory, and at that time a monument
was erected at Naärden, Holland, the little village where he died
and was buried. At Leipzig there is a pedagogical library founded


## p. 3911 (#277) ###########################################

JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
3911
in his honor on the two-hundredth anniversary of his birth, which
numbers more than 66,000 volumes.
Comenius wrote one hundred and thirty-five books and treatises,
most of which were translated during his lifetime into all the lan-
guages of Europe and several languages of Asia. Not all of them
related to education; he wrote voluminously on religious subjects
also. To name and characterize his didactic works would far tran-
scend the limits of this notice; we can do no more than draw an
outline of his pedagogical system.
-
Early in the Renaissance the ancient literatures took complete
possession of the minds of scholars and teachers. As these litera-
tures were nowhere the vernacular, the schools were made machines
for teaching the Latin and Greek languages. Sometimes the results
were better, sometimes worse. We may hope that Comenius spoke
of the schools at their worst estate when he said that they were
"the terror of boys and the slaughter-houses of minds," — " places
where hatred of literature and books was contracted, "_" where what
ought to be poured in gently was forced in violently," and "where
what ought to be put clearly was presented in a confused and intri-
cate manner, as if it were a collection of puzzles. " "Ten years,” he
said, "are given to the study of the Latin tongue, and after all the
result is disappointing. Boyhood is distracted for years with pre-
cepts of grammar, infinitely prolix, perplexed, and obscure, and for
the most part useless. Boys are stuffed with vocabularies without
associating the words with things, or indeed with one another. " For
the time it was impossible, even if desirable, to overturn the estab-
lished system; and Comenius, while still at Prerau, addressed himself
to the problem of simplifying the teaching of Latin. His first book,
'Grammaticæ Facilioris Præcepta,' written for his own pupils, was
published at Prague in 1616. The great impression that the 'Janua'
produced, shows how ready men were to welcome anything that
promised to mitigate the evils of the prevailing methods of teaching.
But deeply interested as he was in teaching languages, Comenius
still saw that this was by no means the great educational question of
the time. Early in life he had become a disciple of the new induct-
ive philosophy; and of all the titles that have been conferred upon
him, that of "the Bacon of education" is the most significant. The
impression that he received from Bacon was most profound. Several
of his titles, as Didactica Magna,' 'Pansophiæ Prodromus,' and
'Silva,' suggest titles before used by his master. Looking at edu-
cation from the Baconian point of view, Comenius proposed to make
it an inductive science. He found in nature the great storehouse of
education material. "Do we not dwell in the Garden of Eden,” he
demanded, « as well as our predecessors? Why should not we use


## p. 3912 (#278) ###########################################

3912
JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
our eyes and ears and noses as well as they? and why need we other
teachers than these in learning to know the works of nature? Why
should we not, instead of these dead books, open to the children the
living book of nature? Why not open their understandings to the
things themselves, so that from them, as from living springs, many
streamlets may flow? " Holding these views and putting them effect-
ively before the world, he became the founder of the pedagogical
school known as the Sense-Realists. But much more than this, he
had the rare merit of seeing that modern education must be built
on the basis of the modern languages; and so he proposed to call
the elementary school the "vernacular school," things before words,
and vernacular words before foreign words.
<<
Comenius's best known books are the Didactica Magna' and the
'Orbis Sensualium Pictus. ' The first was written in Czech, the
author's vernacular, one of the best of the Slavonic dialects, during
his first residence in Lissa; but was not published until a later day,
and then in Latin. It is a general treatise on method.
« After many
workings and tossings of my thoughts," he says, "by setting every-
thing to the immovable laws of nature," he lighted upon this trea-
tise, which shows the art of readily and solidly teaching all things. "
The Orbis Pictus,' which was only a modification of the Janua,'
first appeared in 1657. Hoole, the English translator, renders the
Latin title thus: Visible World; or a Nomenclature and Pictures of
all the Chief Things that are in the World, and of Men's Employ-
ments Therein. ' The Orbis Pictus' has been called Children's
First Picture-Book,' and it obtained much the widest circulation and
use of all the reformer's works. It was written to illustrate his ideas
of teaching things and words together. Its keynote is struck by
the legend, "There is nothing in the intellect that is not first in the
sense. »
The lessons, of which there are one hundred and ninety-
four words, are given in Latin and German, and are each illustrated
with a copper cut. While the book is wholly unsuited to our use, it
is still an interesting pedagogical memorial, archaic and quaint.
But Bacon's influence on Comenius was far greater than has yet
appeared. The philosopher had large conceptions of the kingdom of
knowledge, and the disciple accepted these conceptions in their most
exaggerated form. He became the founder of 'Pansophia': men could
attain to universal knowledge if they were rightly taught and guided.
When his eye had once caught this vision, it never wandered from it
to the day of his death. He projected a Pansophic school, and spent
half a lifetime in seeking a patron who would help him to realize
his dream. Save some of the first ones, his didactic treatises were
written as means to a Pansophic end. The books that have made
him immortal he counted but as dust in the balance, compared with


## p. 3913 (#279) ###########################################

JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
3913
the piles of manuscripts that he produced devoted to all knowledge.
In fact, he almost despised himself because, partly persuaded by his
patrons and advisers and partly compelled by the necessities of
livelihood, he gave so much time to things didactic. Thus Comenius
was like Bacon, in that his real service to the world was something
quite different from what he proposed for its benefit. He was like
Bacon also in this, that he put forth the same work - practically
so in more than one form.
-
The mistakes of Comenius lie upon the surface. He entertained
exaggerated views of the results to flow to mankind from the en-
largement of knowledge, he greatly overestimated the value of
method, and so, very naturally, greatly magnified what the human
mind is able to accomplish in the field of learning. He carried much
too far his sensational principles, and seriously underestimated the
ancient learning and letters. But these mistakes, and even Pan-
sophism itself, may be not only excused but welcomed; since they
undoubtedly contributed at the time, and since, to educational pro-
gress.
It must not be supposed that Comenius had no precursors. Bacon
had disclosed to men his vision of the kingdom of knowledge. Rabelais
had published his realistic views of education and his vast scheme
of studies. Montaigne had delivered his criticisms on current teach-
ing and submitted his suggestions for reform. Mulcaster had given to
the world his far-reaching anticipations of the future. Ratich, the
John the Baptist of the new movement, to whom Comenius was
probably most indebted next to Bacon, had gone far in revolt from
the existing régime. But it was left to Comenius to give the new
pedagogy a shaping and an impulse that well entitle him to be
called its founder.
Comenius has still other credentials to permanent fame. He
advocated popular education, contended for the union of knowledge
with morals and piety, proposed the higher education of women,
propounded the existing tripartite division of education, and devised
a system of graded instruction for schools of a decidedly modern
character. His place in the educational pantheon is secure; but not
so much by reason of his didactics, which are now largely antiquated,
as by reason of his spirit. As Mr. Quick has said:-"He saw that
every human creature should be trained up to become a reasonable
being, and that the training should be such as to draw out the God-
given faculties. Thus he struck the keynote of the science of
education. "
B. Altinsdale


## p. 3914 (#280) ###########################################

3914
JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE ORBIS PICTUS›
I
NSTRUCTION is the means to expel rudeness, with which young
wits ought to be well furnished in Schools: but so as that
the teaching be-1, True; 2, Full; 3, Clear; and 4, Solid.
I. It will be true, if nothing be taught but such as is bene-
ficial to one's life; lest there be a cause of complaining after-
wards. We know not necessary things, because we have not
learned things necessary.
2. It will be full, if the mind be polished for wisdom, the
tongue for eloquence, and the hands for a neat way of living.
This will be that grace of one's life: to be wise, to act, to
speak.
3, 4. It will be clear, and by that, firm and solid, if what-
ever is taught and learned be not obscure or confused, but
apparent, distinct, and articulate as the fingers on the hands.
The ground of this business is, that sensual objects may be
rightly presented to the senses, for fear they may not be re-
ceived. I say, and say it again aloud, that this last is the
foundation of all the rest: because we can neither act nor speak
wisely, unless we first rightly understand all the things which
are to be done, and whereof we are to speak. Now there is
nothing in the understanding which was not before in the sense.
And therefore to exercise the senses well about the right per-
ceiving the differences of things, will be to lay the grounds for
all wisdom, and all wise discourse, and all discreet actions in
one's course of life. Which, because it is commonly neglected
in our schools, and the things which are to be learned are
offered to scholars without being understood or being rightly
presented to the senses, it cometh to pass that the work of
teaching and learning goeth heavily onward, and affordeth little
benefit.
See here then a new help for schools, a Picture and Nomen-
clature of all the chief things in the world, and of men's actions
in their way of living: which that you, good masters, may not
be loath to run over with your scholars, I tell you, in short,
what good you may expect from it.
It is a little book, as you see, of no great bulk, yet a brief
of the whole world, and a whole language; full of Pictures,
Nomenclatures, and Descriptions of things.


## p. 3915 (#281) ###########################################

JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
3915
I. The Pictures are the representations of all visible things
(to which also things invisible are reduced after their fashion) of
the whole world. And that in that very order of things in
which they are described in the 'Janua Latinæ Linguæ'; and
with that fullness, that nothing very necessary or of great con-
cernment is omitted.
II. The Nomenclatures are the Inscriptions, or Titles, set
every one over their own Pictures, expressing the whole thing
by its own general term.
III. The Descriptions are the explications of the parts of the
Picture, so expressed by their own proper terms; as the same
figure which is added to every piece of the Picture, and the term
of it, always showeth what things belongeth one to another.
Which such book, and in such a dress, may (I hope) serve.
I. To entice witty children to it, that they may not conceit
it a torment to be in school, but dainty fare. For it is apparent
that children (even from their infancy almost) are delighted with
pictures, and willingly please their eyes with these lights; and it
will be very well worth the pains to have once brought it to
pass, that scarecrows may be taken away out of wisdom's gar-
dens.
II. This same little book will serve to stir up the attention,
which is to be fastened upon things, and even to be sharpened
more and more; which is also a great matter. For the senses
(being the main guides of childhood, because therein the mind
doth not as yet raise up itself to an abstracted contemplation of
things) evermore seek their own objects, and if they may be
away, they grow dull, and wry themselves hither and thither out
of a weariness of themselves; but when their objects are present,
they grow merry, wax lively, and willingly suffer themselves to
be fastened upon them, till the thing be sufficiently discerned.
This book then will do a good piece of service in taking espe
cially flickering wits, and preparing them for deeper studies.
III. Whence a third good will follow: that children being
won thereunto, and drawn over with this way of heeding, may be
furnished with the knowledge of the prime things that are in
the world, by sport and merry pastime. In a word, this Book
will serve for the more pleasing using of the 'Vestibulum' and
'Janua Linguarum,' for which end it was even at the first chiefly
intended. Yet if it like any that it be bound up in their native
tongues also, it promiseth three good things of itself.


## p. 3916 (#282) ###########################################

3916
JOHANN AMOS COMENIUS
I. First, it will afford a device for learning to read more
easily than hitherto, especially having a symbolical alphabet set
before it; to wit, the characters of the several letters, with the
image of that creature whose voice that letter goeth about to
imitate, pictured by it. For the young A B C scholar will easily
remember the force of every character by the very looking upon
the creature, till the imagination, being strengthened by use, can
readily afford all things; and then having looked over a table of
the chief syllables also (which yet was not thought necessary to
be added to this book), he may proceed to the viewing of the
pictures and the inscriptions set over them. Where again, the
very looking upon the thing pictured suggesting the name of the
thing, will tell him how the title of the picture is to be read.
And thus the whole book being gone over by the bare titles of
the pictures, reading cannot but be learned; and indeed too,
which thing is to be noted, without using any ordinary tedious
spelling, that most troublesome torture of wits, which may wholly
be avoided by this method. For the often reading over the book,
by those larger descriptions of things, and which are set after the
pictures, will be able perfectly to beget a habit of reading.
II. The same book being used in English, in English schools,
will serve for the perfect learning of the whole English tongue,
and that from the bottom; because by the aforesaid descriptions
of things, the words and phrases of the whole language are
found set orderly in their proper places. And a short English
Grammar might be added at the end, clearly resolving the speech
already understood into its parts; showing the declining of the
several words, and reducing those that are joined together under
certain rules.